Italian Cardinal Elio Sgreccia died on June 5 at the age of 90. He was born in 1928 and ordained a priest in 1952.
In 1973, he was appointed spiritual assistant at the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. The experience moved him deeply.
From then on, he passionately dedicated his life to the field of bioethics. He was very critical of the “ideological colonization” that Pope Francis also denounces today.
CARD. ELIO SGRECCIA
President Emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life
“Large foundations around the world have funded abortion, sterilization, etc. They continue to do so. The only thing a president can do is not give them funds from the state. However, when the state gives aid, it shows it supports these foundations.”
John Paul II made him number two of the Pontifical Council for the Family. In 2005, he was appointed president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. He was very critical of abortion, euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and cloning-oriented experiments.
The College of Cardinals is now reduced to 220 members, 110 of whom are voters. Out of them, 73 were elected by Pope Francis, 74 by Benedict and 73 by John Paul II.
